Amir Mir. Islamabad
In the latest in an ongoing spate of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, a suicide bomber killed 40 people and injured 60 in the garrison town of Rawalpindi on Monday.
According to reports, the bomber blew himself up in the car park of a five star hotel, Shalimar, off the busy Mall Road in the high-security cantonment. The area houses major hotels as well as important government and army installations.
The intensity of the blast left numerous buildings with shattered windows. The targeted area lies close to the Pakistani army headquarters; many of the injured include military personnel.
Eyewitnesses said the suicide bomber, who was riding a motorbike, triggered explosives in his jacket as he entered the parking lot.
The country's president, prime minister and other top officials condemned the blast, but vowed to continue the offensive in South Waziristan, an impoverished and underdeveloped tribal region next to Afghanistan where al Qaeda is believed to have hideouts.


TERROR AT FULL STRETCH
Nov 2: 40 killed, 60 injured in suicide blast in hotel premises near army headquarters in Rawalpindi. Blast brings year's total for deaths in militant attacks close to 500
Oct 28: 80 killed, 100 injured when bomb explodes in busy market in Peshawar
Oct 15: 31 killed in string of militant attacks in Lahore, Peshawar and Kohat in the northwest
Oct 12: 41 -- including 6 soldiers - killed, 45 wounded in suicide bomb attack on military vehicle in Shangla district near Swat valley
Oct 10: Gunmen in army uniforms attack army headquarters in Rawalpindi. Pakistani commandos storm building next day and rescue 39 hostages. Nine militants, three hostages, 11 soldiers killed
Oct 9: 49 killed, 100 injured in suspected suicide car-bombing in Peshawar
Oct 5: Suicide bomber dressed as paramilitary soldier attacks UN World Food Programme office in Islamabad. Five staff killed